Staking machine



1962 P. E. SCHMIDT ETAL 3,056,446

STAKING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E W W P l F/ 6 BYJU I IQGSF Vi 0532 6, Jn.

ATTORNEY Oct. 2, 1962 Filed June 29, 1959 P. E. SCHMIDT ETAL STAKINGMACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR'S Paul E. Schm/di James F Wad'defl, Jr

ATTORNEY Oct. 2, 1962 P. E. SCHMIDT ETAL STAKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet5 Filed June 29, 1959 //O V. AC

FIG. 9

INVENTORS Paul E. Schmidt BY James F Wadde//,Jr.

A TTORNE Y rates Patent Ofifice 3,656,445 Patented Oct. 2, 19523,ti56,44= @TAKING MAtIHINE Paul E. Schmidt, Wichita, Kane, and James F.Waddeil,

.Iru, Versailles, Mon, designer to Boeing Airplane Company, Wichita,Karts, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 29, 1959, Ser. No. 823,453 6Claims. (Cl. 153-41.)

Our invention relates to a semiautomatic machine to apply an electricalterminal or connector to an electrical conductor. The machine includesautomatic orienting and feeding means for serially feeding terminals inoriented position, a pincers-type transfer device for transferring theterminals from the orienting and feeding means to staking means whilemaintaining terminal orientation, and control means forsemiautomatically operating the transfer and staking means. The end ofan electrical conductor is manually positioned in each terminal at thestaking position and then the control means is actuated to initiate acycle including the staking of the terminal on the conductor and thetransfer of another terminal to the staking position.

Terminal staking has been accomplished in automatic production linemachines in automotive, electrical appliance and radio factories inwhich measured lengths of insulated Wire are automatically cut from areel and stripped at both ends, and in which terminals from strips ofmetal have been formed about the stripped ends of the wire lengths.Other expensive machines have been devised for the forming of terminalsfrom strips of metal and the staking thereof on wires which are manuallyfed. The machines above described are too expensive for use in smal-lotproduction runs and some of these machines are restricted to use with asingle type of terminal.

The present invention was conceived in connection with the manufactureof aircraft, where it is not feasible to automatically feed the wire forvarious reasons, i.e., the wire may be at the end of a bundle made upfor installation on an aircraft, or production is relatively limited andcan not justify an expensive machine and setup. In many aircraft plants,the wire is stirpped by hand strippers and the terminals are staked byhand-held plier-like tools.

The objects of our invention include: to provide a semiautomaticterminal-applying machine; to devise a machine that is suitable foraircraft or like production conditions, that will meet qualityrequirements and that will save labor in terminal staking operations; toprovide a machine to substitute for hand-staking operations, that issufiiciently lightweight to permit movement from place to place in aplant as need arises, and that does not require a large investment; todevise a machine into which the stripped ends of electrical conductorscan be fed manually, in which terminals are fed from a bulk terminalsupply chamber, and in which the staking operation is conducted merelyby the operation of a manual control such as a foot switch; and toprovide a machine adaptable for staking more than one design ofterminals, including terminals that require axial and radial orientationin the staking position.

=Our invention will be best understood, together with additionalobjectives and advantages thereof, from the following description, readwith reference to the drawings, in which:

'FIGURE 1 is an elevation view, partly in section, showing the majormoving components of a specific embodiment of our terminal stakingmachine;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view showing a portion of the terminal supply chamberand the terminal orienting and feeding mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a section view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2 and showing theterminal pincers in gripping position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective View of a specificterminal which the machine is adaptable to handle and the view shows theenlarged ferrule and radial slot of the terminal and the end of theelectrical conductor to be staked in the terminal;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation view taken on line 5-5 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view taken on line 66 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, detailed view taken from the same viewpoint asFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is an elevation view including the staking jaws and operatingmechanism, viewing the structure in the manner indicated by line 8-8 ofFIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a combined schematic drawing in which electrical circuitryis shown in full lines and pneumatic circuitry is shown in dashed lines.

Our machine was specifically designed to stake terminals of theseparable, plug-in, pin type, such as the contacts of Cannon miniatureelectrical connectors. The machine is adaptable to process otherterminals. For example, Bendix Pygmy miniature electrical connectors,which do not have radial slots, can be processed by simple modificationsof the sorting and feeding track means of the terminal orienting andfeeding mechanism 16 and by providing a four part jaw means in thestaking mechanism 124. The Cannon product is generally as shown byterminal 22 in FIGURE 4. Terminal 22 has an enlarged end forming a wireinsulation receiving ferrule 34 having a radal slot therein. Ferrule 34is crimped around the insulation of an electrical conductor, closingradial slot 40, such as the inulation at 33 on electrical conductor 35in FIGURES 4 and 7. The stripped wire, as 37, on the conductor ispositioned in the axial opening 39 of terminal 22 and is staked in placeby deformation of the shank 32 of terminal 22 in the area of axialopennig 39. The staking operation is conducted by the crimping dies 136shown in FIG- URES 1, 7, and 8. Terminals 22 are provided as male orfemale parts, not shown in detail, on the smaller shank ends 32 oppositeenlarged ferrules 34.

In various industries it is desirable to app'y some type of terminal toa wire-like body. The terminals and the wires may or may not be metaland if the wire is an electrical conductor, it may or may not beinsulated. Although our invention is particularly adapted to process theterminals shown and described, its usefulness is not limited to thoseterminals. For purposes of the present specification and claims the wordterminal is defined as including any small body, of whatever material,having a deformable portion to be applied to the end of a wire, ofwhatever material, by a crimping or staking operation or the like.Although the bodies to be staked are sometimes called by other names,such as connectors or contacts, the word terminal was selected for useherein because it is descriptive of a member positioned at the end of awire, e.g., where the wire terminates. The words crimping and stakingare used interchangeably to describe the action in securing the terminalto the conductor but the words are defined, for the purposes of thepresent specification and claims, as including any securing system inwhich jaws, dies or the like, upon application of pressure, deform aterminal to clamp the end of a wire.

Briefly, the structure of our invention includes a supply chamber toreceive bulk, separate, unoriented terminals; orienting and feedingmeans associated with the supply chamber including vibrating, ramp andguide means adapted to orient and present the terminals in sequence;pincer-like terminal gripping members supported on a pivotable arm todeliver the terminals from the orienting and feeding means to a stakingposition; and staking means assasse to stake terminals, in said stakingposition, on conductors or the like.

The structure will be described in the following order: (1) the terminalorienting and feeding means 16; (2) the transfer means 54; (3) thestaking means 124; (4) the electrical and pneumatic circuitry andoperation; and (5) the operation of the machine.

Terminal Orienting and Feeding Means The terminal orienting and feedingmeans 16 includes a vibrator-supply chamber 12 supported on the uppersurface of a table base 14 by a housing 18 that includes vibrationproducing means 20. The vibrator-supply chamber assembly 12 is alight-weight dish-shaped container resiliently supported by housing 18.The chamber is vibrated in a vertical and rotary motion by anelectro-magnetic vibrator 20. The bottom of chamber 12 is slightlyconvex, e.g., raised in the center, whereby the terminals tend tovibrate to the periphery of the chamber. In the prototype machine, acommercial unit was used called Syntron Vibratory Elevator andmanufactured by the Syntron Company, Homer City, Pa. The unit wasmodified as to details of the ramp 24 and a feeding track 28 was addedso that the unit could perform the difficult orienting and feedingaction necessary in the present machine.

The vertical and rotary action of vibrator 20 causes terminals 22, afterthey have reached the periphery of chamber 12, to ascend helical ramp24. The upper surface of the ramp has a slight longitudinal groove toprevent the terminals, as they vibrate upwardly, from falling over theramp edge back into the chamber. Because of the nature of the presentorienting and feeding action needed, it is desired to have the terminalsascend the ramp small ends first. When subjected to the vertical androtary vibratory movement, more of the terminals head up the ramp withtheir larger ends 34 first than with their smaller -ends first. Theaddition of shot 26 facilitates the action in directing part of theterminals small ends first up ramp 24. A suflicient number go shank ends32 first up the ramp so that the orienting problem resolves itself intoeliminating the large end first oriented terminals from the procession.

A terminal sorting means 23 has been provided to divert all terminalsascending large ends first, over the edge of ramp 24 back into thechamber 12, as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 6. Sorting means 23 consists ofsome means of narrowing the ramp and is shown as comprising a springstrip forming an abutment crowding the terminals to the outer edge ofthe ramp. Spring strip 23 is secured at one end by a rivet 25 and ascrew 27 pressing on the other end is adjustable to vary the crowdingaction so that head-first oriented terminals will fall off the ramp andthe shank-first oriented terminals will continue up the ramp. Thehead-first oriented terminals tend to fall oif more easily apparentlybecause the terminals are pointed off the ramp at the point of maximumunbalance, whereas when the small end is first the terminals are pointedonto the ramp at the point of maximum unbalance. In changing betweensorting male and female terminals of the type above described, sortingspring strip 23 is adjusted to a different position (narrowing ramp 24for the male terminal) by means of screw 27.

Feeding track 28 leads from the upper end of ramp 24 and receivesterminals therefrom that are, as before related, advancing with thesmaller, shank end 32 forward. Feeding track 28 has an elongated slot 30of sufficient width whereby the smaller ends or shanks 32 of theterminals 22 advancing onto track 28 from the helical ramp 24 may easilyfall through. This positions the enlarged or ferrule portions 34 of theterminals uppermost. One upper wall section 42 of the feeding track 28is upright and coplanar with the underlying wall section of the slot 30,except for a transition section adjacent the ramp. The opposite wall 41is beveled whereby the terminals are unstable until terminal radialslots abut upright wall 42. The combined actions of Walls 41 and 42 maybe termed camming abutment means. Feeding track 28 is secured to chamber12 and vibrates therewith and terminals 22, under the vibratory action,rotate until the edges of radial slot 40 abut wall section 42, wherebyall of the terminals are oriented to face in the same direction. Thisradial orientation of the slots 40 is necessary to insure properorientation of the terminals 22 for staking when they are latertransferred to and disposed in the staking die.

The vibratory and rotary movement of chamber 12 also advances terminals22 serially toward a feeding position at the end of track 28. At theouter end of feeding track 28 is a pivotal gate 46, hinged at 48 topermit removal of the terminals, one at a time, sideways, from thefeeding position within slot 30, by the transfer means 54. A flat spring50 urges gate 46 to a closed position.

Transfer Means The transfer mechanism 54 operates in a vertical plane atright angles to feeding track 28 and at right angles to the orientationof the staking mechanism 124. A transfer arm 56 is provided to pivotabout one end in that vertical plane. The terminal feeding and stakingpositions are within the vertical plane and, during transfer, theterminals do not change orientation relative to that plane.

The other end 58 of arm 56 forms, together with a movable jaw 62, aparallel-bar type pincers 60. Movable jaw 62 is pivotably connected toarm 56 by a link 64 and a dog-leg shaped lever link 66. Links 64, 66allow movable jaw 62 to move away from jaw end 58 of arm 56 in anarcuate movement while remaining in parallel relationship thereto. Thetips of the jaWs on the inner or gripping surfaces are faced with aslightly resilient material 70, such as nylon. The terminals 22 arepinched by the jaws with sufiicient force to hold them without marringtheir exterior surface. A tension spring 72 secured to an end of link 64resiliently urges pincer jaws 58, 62 closed.

One end of transfer arm 56 is pivotably attached to a slide block 76 bya bolt 78. The pivotal support of arm 56 permits it to swing in avertical plane, in the manner indicated in FIGURES l and 7, between anupper, upright position, picking up a terminal 22 in feeding positionfrom feeding track 28 to a lower, horizontal position where it isdisposed to insert the terminal in staking position in the staking means124. This action will be described in more detail later.

Slide block '76, on which arm 56 is pivoted, is slidably supported totravel horizontally by gibs 80 which are secured to a back support plate82 by bolts 84. This permits transfer arm 56 to be moved toward and awayfrom staking means 124. A limit switch 86 is located to be actuated byan abutment 88 on transfer arm 56 during the horizontal travel of thearm. A stop 90 limits movement of the transfer arm 56 away from thestaking mechanism, and a roller abutment 92 supports the outer end oftransfer arm 56 while in the horizontal or down position. Slide block 76is held in a retracted position abutting stop 90 during swingingmovement of arm 56 by a tension spring 94 connecting spring post 96 andm upright support 98.

A two-way acting pneumatic cylinder 160, which actuates transfer arm 56,is pivotally secured to upright support 98 and its piston rod 104 isattached to transfer arm 56 by a pivot pin 106 secured to a lug 108 onarm 56. When pneumatic cylinder 160 is operated to withdraw arm 56, inits horizontal, down position, away from staking means 124, arm 56 ispivoted upwardly when slide block 76 strikes abutment 90. Spring 94insures that block 76 is completely withdrawn when arm 56 is pivotedupwardly.

Dog-leg lever link 66 has a roller cam follower 110 that, during theupward pivoting of transfer arm 56, contacts an arcu-ate camming surface112 of a cam 114 secured to back support plate 32. This action openspincer jaws 58, 62. In the fully open position, before cam followerleaves cam 114, pincer jaw 62 passes beneath the end terminal 22 in thefeeding position in slot 311 of feeding track 28. As cam follower 111)rolls over the end of cam surface 112, three things happen substantiallysimultaneously: (1) transfer arm 56 contacts a stop 118 and the contactlever 1211 of a limit switch 122; (2) fixed jaw 5% of arm 56 ispositioned abutting the outermost terminal 22 in feeding track 28; and(3) tension spring 72 closes movable jaw 62 of pincers 6t pinching theterminal 22 in the feeding position between jaws 58, 62. This means thatthe end terminal 22 is grasped in an oriented position relative topincers 60 that is maintained throughout the remainder of the transfercycle.

Transfer arm 56 is now moved in a reverse, downward direction bypneumatic cylinder 1%. Cam follower 11@ passes beneath cam member 114.The lower portion 119 of cam member 114 is pivotably supported from backplate 82 by a pivot pin 123 so that portion 11? is pressed outwardly bycam follower 110 permitting it to pass in downward movement.

When the transfer arm 56, in its downward swing, contacts abutment 92,further extension of piston rod 104 moves arm 56 horizontally toward thestaking means 124. At the limit of this horizontal travel, terminal 22is disposed in a properly oriented staking position between crimping orstaking dies 136 with the radial slot 41 of terminal 22 uppermost.

As will be explained later, limit switches 86 and 122, contacted inlower and upper positions of arm 56 respectively, function in thecontrol circuitry of the machine. Referring to FIGURE 8, a furthercontrol device, relating to the transfer system, includes a solenoid Eand a limit switch mounted on a backing plate 155. A bar 157, pivotallysupported at 159, has one end 161 disposed under cam follower 1119 ofthe pincers mechanism and is in position to upwardly press follower 110when transfer arm 56 is in its horizontal, extended position. A linkage163 connects bar 157 to the moving core of solenoid E, which is operableby downward movement, to pivot the bar and thereby to raise cam follower110. A tension spring 165, between a spring post 167 and bar 157, actsoppositely to solenoid E and normally urges bar end 161 away from camfollower 110. The other bar end 171 contacts the contact lever 173 oflimit switch 158. As will be discussed again later, initiation of acycle of operation starts when staking dies 136 are pressed to crimp aterminal on a conductor, solenoid E is then automatically operatedpivoting bar 157 whereby bar end 161 raises cam follower 11% wherebypincers 60 release the terminal. At the same time, bar end 171 operateslimit switch 153 to initiate the terminal transfer cycle.

Staking Means The staking means 124 is secured to the base 14 and isgenerally aligned at right angles to transfer means 54 and parallel tofeeding track 28. A pair of superposed clamping arms 126 are pivotallysupported by pins 128 in a slot in an upright support 13%. Splitdie-holders 134 are disposed between arcuate bosses at the end of arms126. Die-holders 134 are guided in vertical movement by a supportingplate 132, bolted to base 14, which has flanges 133 acting on the edgesof die-holders 134. Plate 132 has an opening, not shown, whereby pincers60 may position a terminal 22 in a staking position between matingstaking dies 136 secured between die-holders 134 by bolts 137. Stakingdies that are now standard products for use in hand, plier-like terminalcrimpers, may be used for staking dies 136 or special dies may be used.Die-holders 134 are guided in mating movement by pins 139 disposed inmatching openings and the die holders are normally pressed apart bycompression springs 141 encircling pins 139. The foregoing structure maybe generally described as jaw means, particularly for purposes of theclaims, and the term is taken to mean any mechanism that will perform astaking or crimping operation as heretofore defined.

Staking means 124 is actuated by a two-way acting pneumatic cylinder 140supported by table base 14 and having its piston rod 142 connected tothe ends of arms 126 by a clevis 144 and a toggle linkage 146. A limitswitch 143 is positioned so that its plunger will be depressed by a lug150 extending from clevis 144 during retraction of piston rod 142.Another limit switch 152 is positioned so that its plunger is actuatedby movement of toggle link 146 during extension of the piston rod 142.The purpose of these switches will be explained later.

Electrical and Pneumatic Circuitry and Operation FIGURE 9 is a combinedshowing of the electrical circuitry in full lines and the pneumaticcircuitry in dashed lines. The circuits and their operation will bedescribed below and that description will be followed by a review of theoperation of the mechanical elements.

Referring to FIGURE 9, a cycle of operation is initiated by depressingfoot switch FS that moves the switch from a position connected tosolenoid B to a second position closing the line to solenoid A. SolenoidA then moves a pneumatic control shuttle valve V for cylinder 14% todirect air pressure in cylinder 140 in a direction applying pressurethrough piston rod 142 to close dies 136. When the dies start to close,limit switch 148 (which is contacted by the piston rod 142 in retractedposition) is opened thereby deenergizing solenoid A. Valves V and V areshuttle valves alternately directing air from the air supply, such asplant air, to opposite ends of cylinders 140 and 10% Valve V having beenmoved by solenoid A, will remain in its position until moved to theopposite position by solenoid B.

When dies 136 have closed, limit switch 152 is contacted and closed bythe linkage 146 associated with piston rod 142 (see FIGURE 8) andsolenoid E is energized thereby acting through linkage 163 and bar 157to lift cam follower whereby pincers 60 release the terminal 22 beinggripped. Upon pivoting of bar 163, limit switch 158 is also operated(see FIGURE 8) and LS 158 closes energizing solenoid C which movespneumatic control valve V to admit air to cylinder 100 to move transferarm 56 back and swing it upward. When transfer arm 56 moves backwards,limit switch 86 is released (see FIGURE 7) and moves to open position toprevent having dies 136 again close due to continued or reneweddepression of foot switch FS prior to return of transfer arm 56.

When transfer arm 56 reaches its vertical, pickup position, limit switch122 is contacted and moves from an open to a closed position and thisactuates CR which is a control relay which operates two switches in thelines to solenoids B and D respectively. In effect, CR closes electricalcontact in the lines to solenoids B and D. However, solenoid B is notenergized until FS is released and solenoid D is not energized until LS148 is closed. LS 148 is the limit switch that is contacted when. thepiston rod 142 is in retracted position. Provided that FS has beenreleased, solenoid B is energized moving shuttle valve V to an oppositeposition and air is supplied to cylinder to withdraw the piston rod 142permitting dies 136 to open. When piston rod 142 starts to retract, LS152 is released and moves to an open position which deenergizessolenoids B, C, and B. When solenoid E is deenergized, LS 158 isreleased and moves to open position. When piston rod 142 reaches fullyretracted position, LS 143 is actuated and moves to a closed position.As control relay CR has previously closed switches in the lines tosolenoids B and D, solenoid D is energized and moves shuttle valve V toan opposite position applying air to cylinder 1% moving piston rod 104forward thereby swinging transfer arm 56 down and pushing it forwardthereby inserting the next terminal 22 in dies 136. As

transfer arm 56 moves down, LS 122 is released and moves to openposition thereby deenergizing control relay CR which deenergizessolenoid D. As arm 56 moves forward it actuates LS 86 and moves it toclosed position. At this point, the cycle can be repeated. The transferand staking cycle is automatic except for the operation of one manualcontrol member, foot switch FS, whereby the machine is termedsemiautomatic.

Operation The operation in the electrical and pneumatic circuits hasbeen described and the mechanical action will be reviewed briefiy below.

Before operation is started, a supply of terminals 22 are placed invibrating chamber 12 together with some shot 26. Vibrator producingmeans 28 is turned on and terminals 22 advance up ramp 24. The terminalsthat are headed up the ramp with their large ends first are dischargedback into chamber 12 by the sorting means 23. When a supply of terminals22 have reached position at the end of slot 30 of feeding track 28,staking may commence. Means, not shown, in the electrical circuitry mayshut off vibrator 20 as dies 136 close and until pincers 60 on arm 56has picked up the end terminal in feeding position from feeding track28, so that vibration does not interfere with the pickup of terminals inproperly oriented position.

After the first terminal 22 is positioned in the path of dies 136, aconductor 35 from a supply of conductors having stripped ends 37, ispositioned in terminal 22. The foot switch FS is pressed and pneumaticcylinder 14% operates to close dies 136 to crimp ferrule 34 about theinsulation 33 of conductor 35 and to stake the stripped end 37 of theconductor in axial opening 39 of the terminal.

The rest of the action is automatic until another terminal 22 ispositioned in the dies. Cylinder ltltl is operated to retract arm 56 andto swing it upwardly. Cam follower 110 of pincers 60 strikes cam 114 andopens the pincers until the position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 7is reached when cam follower 110 is freed from cam 114 and pincers 60close to grasp the terminal in feeding position in feeding track 28.Cylinder 100 then moves piston rod 104 in an opposite direction swingingtransfer arm 56 downwardly and forwardly, positioning the next terminalwithin dies 136.

It will be evident that terminals of different shapes may be processedby modification of the details of feeding track 28, sorting means 23 onramp 24 and/or other modifications of the structure described. Thesemodifications will be understood by those skilled in the art afterbecoming familiar with the present disclosure. Although the equipment isdesigned to process terminals in the more difiicult situation whereradial orientation is required, the apparatus may be used to processterminals not requiring radial orientation. Dies 136 may be interchangedaccording to which terminals are being processed and in at least someapplications the dies presently used in hand staking tools may be usedin the present machine.

In aircraft plants and other facilities now using hand tools for stakingterminals, the present machine will make a large savings of labor andthe machine is an economical and versatile tool for such plants havingthe production conditions before recited. The machine has proven torequire little maintenance and to produce a product of at least thequality of products produced by hand staking.

Having thus specifically described our invention, we do not wish to beunderstood as limiting ourselves to the precise details of constructionshown, but instead wish to cover those modifications thereof which willoccur to those skilled in the art from our disclosure and which fallwithin the scope of our invention, as described in the following claims.

We claim:

1. The improvement in a terminal staking device operable to staketerminals to wires including terminal orienting and feeding meansoperative to serially feed terminals to a feeding position and to givethe terminals a desired orientation by the time the terminals reach saidfeeding position, and including staking means at a staking positionhaving jaw means positioned to receive terminals and operative to stakethe terminals when operated, comprising: transfer means including a barpivotally mounted at one end to pivot in an upright plane and said barhaving parallel-bar type pincers at its other end, said pincers beingnormally spring presesd to a closed position and a cam followerconnected to said pincers operable to open said pincers, a cam locatedin the path of said cam follower when said bar is upwardly pivoted insaid plane, said cam being disposed so that said pincers are opened bysaid cam follower before reaching said feeding position and close on theterminal when the feeding position is reached, the bar when downwardlypivoted moving the pincers to said staking position, said jaw meansbeing operable to receive and stake terminals while they remain grippedby said pincers, and means operable to release the terminals from saidpincers after staking is completed.

2. The improvement in a staking device for terminals having a larger endwith a radial slot and having a smaller end, including staking meansincluding a pair of superposed jaws at a staking position, and includinga chamber having a helical ramp, and means operable to vibrate saidchamber in a vertical and rotary motion causing terminals in saidchamber to move serially up said ramp, and feeding means at the rampupper end and vibrated with said chamber, said feeding means including ahorizontal track having a slot receiving the smaller ends of terminalsfrom said ramp, comprising: said track having a camming abutmentbordering the slot and acting on said terminal larger ends to orientsaid radial slots to face in a desired direction, a gate at the trackouter end permitting removal of terminals from a feeding position, saidgate being a spring-closed, hinged portion of the track wall, transfermeans including a vertically pivotable transfer arm having aparallel-bar type pincers at one end, said pincers having spring meansurging said pincers closed, said pincers having a cam follower operableto open the pincers and a cam in the path of said follower whereby saidpincers open during vertical pivoting of said arm because of the contactof said follower with said cam, said cam terminating at a loca tion sothat said pincers at the peak of upward pivoting will simultaneouslyclose and grasp a terminal at said feeding position, and said armpivoting downwardly in front of said jaws and moving horizontally towardsaid jaws whereby terminals grasped by said pincers are positionedbetween said jaws in said staking position while remaining gripped bysaid pincers.

3. The improvement in a semiautomatic machine for staking terminals towires, including terminal feeding means feeding the terminals to afeeding position, comprising: staking means including jaw meansoperative to stake the terminals on the wires in a staking positionwithin said jaw means; transfer means including an arm pivoting betweena position picking up terminals at said feeding position and a positionto insert the terminals in said staking position within said jaw means;semiautomatic control means for said staking and transfer meansincluding a manually operable control member to be operated when aterminal is positioned in said staking position and a wire is positionedin the terminal; said control means having means operative automaticallyupon operation of said control member first operating said jaw means toclose to stake a terminal and later operating said jaw means to open torelease the terminal, and said control means having means operating saidtransfer means to release the terminal upon closure of said jaw meansand operating said transfer arm to pivot to a position picking up asecond terminal at said feeding position and to pivot back and to insertthe second terminal in said jaw means in said staking position, saidtransfer means gripping the second terminal until said control member isagain operated and until said jaw means again close, said control meansincluding limit switches sensing the closing and opening of said jawmeans, sensing the release of the terminal by said transfer means,sensing the movement of said arm away from and toward said stakingposition, and sensing the arrival of said arm at said feeding position.

4. The improvement in a semiautomatic machine for staking terminals toWires, including terminal orienting and feeding means to receiveunoriented, separate terminals and automatically operative to orient theterminals to a common orientation and to feed the terminals serially ina row to a feeding position, comprising: staking means including jawmeans operative to stake the terminals on the wires in a stakingposition within said jaw means; transfer means operative to pick upterminals at said feeding position and to deliver the terminals to saidstaking means in said staking position, said transfer means maintainingorientation of the terminals during transfer and at said stakingposition so that said common orientation of the terminals at the feedingposition results in proper common orientation of the terminals at thestaking position; semiautomatic control means for said transfer meansand said staking means including a maually operable control member to beoperated when a terminal is positioned in said staking position and awire is positioned in the terminal, said control means having meansoperating automatically upon operation of said control member firstoperating said jaw means to close to stake a terminal, then operatingsaid transfer means to release the terminal, operating said jaw means toopen releasing the terminal, and operating said transfer means to pickup a second terminal at said feeding position and to insert the secondterminal in said jaw means in said staking position at the end of thecycle.

5. The improvement in a terminal staking device operable to stakeelongated terminals to wires, including staking means operable to stakesaid terminals at a staking position, and including terminal orientingand feeding means serially feeding said terminals to a feeding positionand giving said terminals a desired orientation by the time they aredelivered to said feeding position, comprising: a transfer meansincluding pincers operable to grip said terminals at an end thereof atsaid feeding position, said transfer means being operable to transfersaid terminals in a pivoting, swinging movement from said feedingposition to said staking position While maintaining the position of saidterminals being gripped relative to said pincers, said staking meansbeing operable to stake said terminals at said staking position whilesaid pincers are still gripping said end of said terminals, and meansoperable to release said terminals from said pincers after staking iscompleted.

6. The subject matter of claim 5 in which said pincers are of aparallel-bars type and include spring means normally pressing thepincers to closed position and a cam follower operable to open thepincers, a cam in the path of said cam follower opening said pincersduring movement toward said feeding position and permitting said pincersto close at arrival of the pincers at said feeding position whereby thepincers are worked to grasp terminals at said feeding position.

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